A dead car battery is the first sign that something might be wrong with the alternator. check the battery cables to see if they are clean. It is, therefore, recommendable … If I get a jump the car will work for a few days, but it always won't start within the week. To help you determine whether the starter, alternator or indeed the battery are at fault, let’s take a look at each of their roles and what could occur to indicate which element has failed. – You have a bad starter. Bad Ignition Switch. Below are 5 common reasons why your car won’t start and some advice to ensure your car stays in its top shape! Car batteries can die for a huge range of different reasons, and there’s always the chance that whatever went wrong won’t go wrong again. 3 people found this helpful. :rantsmiley: I don't know what else it could be and the fact that I just spent that money for nothing bothers me anymore. There are a number of reasons this could happen. If it’s one of those two, placing the blame can be relatively simple. Tried to start my car 2 days ago – got absolutely nothing (no power to the seats, radio, no trying to start or turn over… no sound at all). If your battery is good, and your alternator isn’t working, the battery will still lose its charge because the alternator isn’t keeping it charged. Jump starting your car or truck does not turn over the engine at all. It is also important that not only is the battery OK, but that it is also correctly charged by the alternator. An alternator typically lasts for 8-12 years, so it isn’t something that has to be replaced as often as other parts like the battery. Car batteries can die for a huge range of different reasons, and there’s always the chance that whatever went wrong won’t go wrong again. bummer to say, but you can get that many bad ones. If your battery doesn’t register any voltage, you have a dead battery, and you need to visit a car shop to purchase a new battery. Another common reason for your car won’t start, but the battery is good is a bad starter. I would start with checking all the battery connections since the battery was just changed. We took the battery off and charged it on a charger and the car started great. It is often an … Evaluating Your Car’s Key Systems for Possible Failure. could be a wiring problem too, but the alternator is easy to test yourself with a cheapy multimeter. Try to get as much information as possible so that you can get the right parts quickly when you go to the auto store. If the battery is working properly and nothing is wrong with it, then it's the alternator that will more likely cause a problem. I replaced the battery and had the cables tightened and it ran for a few days and then it died again. Slow-cranking engine – If your car does eventually start—and keeps running—you may have a failing battery, not a failing alternator. There is also a starter relay in the fuse box on some vehicles. Your vehicle’s starter is responsible for transferring the electrical current received by the battery to the starter solenoid to crank the engine and get it going. Battery issues may also stem from faulty wiring and disconnections. Set it to volts D/C. An auto battery supplies a big electric charge that travels through the starting system and turns some gears to start the car. Test the Alternator I case you tested your battery and found out that it works fine, you need to test the alternator to be sure that it can charge up the battery. won't come on. But the car won't start now and sometimes the interior lights, headlights, etc. Starting and running an engine, in its simplest form, is a three-step process. The battery charged, and he could drive. Before you go out and order a new battery or alternator, test some of these different systems. I jumped his car for him. Check out common car parts when seeking car part replacements. • If nothing happens when you start the car, either the battery or alternator is faulty. It was obvious after they told me the cable sparked, but may not be obvious for some people. Test the alternator to make sure that it can start up the battery. If turning the key to Start doesn’t produce any noise, then the ignition switch or … Bulging battery case – Exposure to extreme cold-heat fluctuations can cause your car battery to swell up. I have a new battery that is showing 13.5volts via ecmlink and autozone determined was good. What is likely the problem? A dead battery is your initial sign that something could be wrong with the alternator. I had a new alternator put on my 1998 V6 accord coupe in December. you should have 13.5-14.5 volts or so. There are many other possible problems that could lead to the fact that, after you’ve replaced the battery, the car won’t start. hook it up to the battery with the engine running. The car sounds weak when trying to start and won't start unless I jump it. If the alternator was bad you may have a low battery as it was running off the battery; with the dash lights, fuel pump running your battery may not have enough power to turn the starter over. I have a brand new alternator and brand new battery that were both purchased and installed yesterday. So I replaced the alternator, and it worked for a few days and then stopped working again. This isn’t necessarily true considering there are several different parts that are involved in starting your vehicle. If the new battery is the wrong size, it will not fit properly in the battery tray or not be secured by the hold-down clamp or strap. The higher the CCA, the greater the starting power of the battery. If your new car battery still won’t start, read the following for a breakdown of the most common reasons this might be happening. Potential problems: – A fuse is blown. The next day, his car wouldn't start again. If your alternator, coil, battery, or starter is bad, the car probably won't start, and it definitely won't be drivable. Car does not start despite the new battery When starting the engine, it is not just the voltage supply from the starter battery that plays a decisive role. CCA – Cold Cranking Amps. Battery dead again. I get up this morning and my car won't start!! Car won't start at times, but battery, alternator, starter are good I have a 2013 CRV that I have had a problem starting. One or more of several key systems might not run properly, or there could be a serious malfunction with the electrical system. If your alternator fails, your battery will lose its charge since the alternator won’t be able to keep it charged up. Once the car is running, the alternator sends current back to recharge the battery as you drive. charge the battery and try it again, you might try boosting it but if your battery has something going on inside you may inject other problems that is why I recommend charging the battery. For 2 months or so, It has been difficult to start (barely cranking at first) before I got a new battery. There is often a huge fuse connected to the alternator’s big power cable. Look for any of these signs of a bad starter: Your engine will not start Nothing was taking power from the battery. I have 1997 Toyota Corolla that hasn't been starting. Faulty fuse. If you can do this then you can probably rule out the alternator. This is a no crank, no start situation. If your car won’t start, it’s often due to a malfunction of either the battery or the alternator. This defines a battery’s ability to start an engine in cold temperatures. there are neutral safety switches in both the automatic and stick shift versions of most vehicles. Signs the Alternator has Failed: I also have a new alternator that tested good. Do This Before Buying a new Battery or Alternator If your car battery won’t hold a charge, is completely dead or starts with a jump, but then won’t start again… This article is for you. A simple test to check the working of the alternator is by running your car; and then unplugging the positive connection of the battery. You should check for corrosion on the battery terminals or if the connection is too tight. New Battery, New Alternator, Car Won’t Start. We took the battery to Autozone, and the battery was completely dead after a jump start and running the car the day before. – The cells are not filled with the proper amount of water. Now it won't start at all. Car won’t start after sitting overnight; Car won’t start unless you give it gas; If you’ve experienced these signs, there is a high probability you have a dying or dead battery on your hands, helping bring the battery vs alternator debate to a successful conclusion. So, you’ll want to check for the below signs to determine if it’s just the battery or if it’s the alternator. Usually, when your car doesn’t start right up, you may immediately suspect that the battery has died. When your car battery dies once, it may be tempting to just write it off as a fluke.